Mauritius information centre to open in Patna

Patna, Nov 27 (IANS) A Mauritius information centre that will operate as a resource centre to help Mauritians of Indian origin, most of them from Bihar, trace their roots will soon come up here.

"A Mauritius information centre will be opened in Patna soon," state Tourism Minister Sunil Kumar Pintu told IANS. He added that the move follows an agreement between the Bihar and Mauritius governments.

"It will operate as resource centre for Mauritians of Indian origin, most of them from Bihar. We will keep records of their ancestors and other related information to help them trace their roots," the minister said.

He said the state government will gather information about the ancestors for documentation.

A life−size statue of Mauritius' first prime minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was installed in Patna in 2007 to strengthen ties between India and Mauritus.

Ramgoolam, whose ancestors hailed from Bihar, was the prime minister from 1961 to 1982 after independence from Britain.

A large number of Bihar residents, known as the Girmitiya labourers, had travelled to various parts of the world, including Mauritius, in the 19th century to serve as indentured labourers in sugarcane and rubber plantations.